7 May 2002
GILL TO ADVISE BOTH CENTRE AND
STATE
From Jal Khambata
NEW DELHI: Punjab's
retired supercop K P S Gill returned to Ahmedabad on Tuesday after
consultations with the Union Government, saying he will be able to
give his final assessment of correctives needed in Gujarat only after
a month-long study of situation by staying put in the state.
After
his last call on Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley lasting nearly an
hour, Gill made it quite clear in an interview that he has been
appointed only to advise the Gujarat Government and not to direct or
take control of the police force in the state.
Though he has
been officially designated as the security advisor to the Gujarat
Chief Minister, Gill said: "I will be interacting with both the
Union and State Governments and will be advising them about my
reading of the situation."
He went on to point out that
he "will be briefing the Union Government personally on a
regular basis", implying the Centre wants to have a direct say
in the state in the matter of law and order through him.
His
return to Delhi so soon on Sunday just after taking over as the chief
minister's advisor had led to a speculation that the supercop used to
a free hand felt uneasy at the terms spelled out about his
functioning. He hinted about his uneasiness when asked about the
purpose of his meeting with Jaitley, saying "I have spoken my
mind about what I feel."
Though he declined to comment on
any assurances given by the Centre to him for his effective
functioning, he said, "I have been in Delhi for a couple of
days, and will be going back to Gujarat today (Tuesday). I will be
there for more than a month now."
His stand that he has
only an advisory role, however, puts a question mark on any
improvement in the violence that continues in Gujarat even after his
takeover, more so since he is not in the direct charge of the police
force accused of communal bias in handling the carnage.
Asked
if denial of complete charge of the Police force will hinder his
functioning, Gill wriggled out, saying "let us wait and see but
right now my role is only advisory."
Observers say but
for Gill getting a free hand in Punjab, he would not have succeeded
in rooting out terrorism and so has been the case when he was sent
out to Assam to deal with the violence there. He may find himself
stifled in the absence of any administrative powers in Gujarat to
quickly deal with developments as all his decisions have to percolate
only through Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The Home Ministry
sources, however, point out that Gill will not be handicapped in
implementation of any decision as he is there at the instance of the
Centre and as such Gujarat Government will be directed by the Centre
under Article 355 if it fails to carry out Gill's orders. END